Racing Point surprised "big risk" aero change did not lead to backward step

Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer was convinced that a change in aerodynamic philosophy this year would lead to an initial performance loss rather than the dramatic gains so far witnessed.

While the team has twice been protested by Renault for using brake ducts it claims are a copy of those on Mercedes' 2019 car, and there remain raised eyebrows as to how closely the RP20 resembles the W10, its pace has nevertheless been eye-catching.

Szafnauer insists a switch from a high to a low-rake solution - the former used by Red Bull, the latter by Mercedes - has ultimately paid dividends, even though there were early warning signs the team was taking the wrong direction.

"We didn't know that what we were doing was going to work to the level that it has," said Szafnauer.

"There was a big risk we were going to take a step backwards. As a matter of fact, when we started developing this in the tunnel, those ideas we saw through pictures, we took a huge step backwards - I mean huge! Seconds a lap slower at the beginning.

"And it was our own learning that we did through the development process of CFD, tunnel work and more designs and re-designs that got us to the place we did.

"The better high-rake solution that you have, the bigger the risk of changing to something else."

One of the key reasons behind the change was due to the fact Racing Point buys its gearboxes from Mercedes, the design of which has a significant impact on the rear of the car.

"We've always had compromises at the rear where the downforce is critical for a stable rear-end," added Szafnauer.

"We've always wanted to get away from the high-rake solution because of the compromise at the rear of the car because we are buying our gearbox from Mercedes.

"This was the first year we were able to change it, but even with that, I felt we were going to take a half-step backwards. But it just didn't happen, it didn't transpire that way."

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